Mature Mealworm Beetles..

[LizMarie]

I'm trying to breed some mealies and my pupae recently started turning into beetles but I've noticed that many of them are a reddish brown while some are already turning black. When they turn black does that mean that they're mature?

 

[Lady_Kiya]

I'm trying to breed some mealies and my pupae recently started turning into beetles but I've noticed that many of them are a reddish brown while some are already turning black. When they turn black does that mean that they're mature?

That is a good question. I am going to pay attention to this because I will be breeding very soon.

 

[RepBex]

Yes A fully black Beetle is mature

 

[LizMarie]

Yes A fully black Beetle is mature

Thank You SOO much.. i was like are these things dying on me, lol..

 

[Snowy & Petra de Gecko]

RepBex is correct

It takes 7 to 9 days to mature and a couple more days after that to mate.

Then a few days later the egg laying will being.

 

[Lady_Kiya]

It takes 7 to 9 days to mature and a couple more days after that to mate.

Then a few days later the egg laying will being.

Thanks Liz, now I know for when I start too. :main_laugh:

 

[cwazy]

i guess so.... good to know breeding has seemed to be very easy for us... not its just a mater of waiting for our mealies to grow... and so we wait...

 

[LizMarie]

Do mealworms lay eggs? Then they hatch? How long does it take the beetles to breed and have babies!!! lol

 

[RepBex]

i have about 20 beetles and i now have a tub in the fridge 4 food containers full and ove other plus a bowl in the tank and they all the right size to feed watch u dont get 2 many lol

 

[Snowy & Petra de Gecko]

Mealworm Life Cycle

Assuming that the room temp is about 72 degrees then, the life cycle is something like this. However, if the room temp is different then, the life cycle times change.

Temps below 62 degrees may stop reproduction.

Temps above 86 degrees may negatevely impact growth and development.

Egg - 4 to 19 days (or as long as 40 days) to hatch and in 4 to 6 weeks they will be about 1/2 inch long.

Larva - 10 weeks (or 70 to 114 days), Visible after about a week (These are the Mealies)

Pupa - 6 to 18 days (or up to 24 days)

Beetle - 8 to 12 weeks. (one other site states that the Beetles will die in about 30 days)

Eggs are laid by the Beetles 9 to 20 days after emergence from the pupa. Each female can lay about 40 eggs per day and they are about the size of a period at the end of this sentence.

 

[LizMarie]

Assuming that the room temp is about 72 degrees then, the life cycle is something like this. However, if the room temp is different then, the life cycle times change.

Temps below 62 degrees may stop reproduction.

Temps above 86 degrees may negatevely impact growth and development.

Egg - 4 to 19 days (or as long as 40 days) to hatch and in 4 to 6 weeks they will be about 1/2 inch long.

Larva - 10 weeks (or 70 to 114 days), Visible after about a week (These are the Mealies)

Pupa - 6 to 18 days (or up to 24 days)

Beetle - 8 to 12 weeks. (one other site states that the Beetles will die in about 30 days)

Eggs are laid by the Beetles 9 to 20 days after emergence from the pupa. Each female can lay about 40 eggs per day and they are about the size of a period at the end of this sentence.

Thank You! My temps are around 70-75degress in my house.. can't wait!!!

 

[LizMarie]

Lemme see what else I can think up... ummm..

I have some black pupae does that mean that they're dead?

 

[RepBex]

black pupa are dead yes

 

[Snowy & Petra de Gecko]

Come On LizMarie

That's Funny.

We know that with Mealies that Black is not good.

Now, once they get to the Beetle Stage then Black is Good.


And if you are not sure then, what a week or two and see if they do anything esle.


I guess when I started to get involved in feeding my Leos, I never did think about the life cycle of a Mealie. I have used them for fishing but, I never knew anything about them.

With the Leos all of that has changed.

But, when I started ... I would look at the Mealies and say "Is that one dead." It was kinda brown but, didn't look too bad. And when I squeezed him it was still mushy. So I just scrached my head and put it back. But, a day or two the silly things were Black.

So I said ... I thought so and threw them away.

So now I am an expert ... when I still don't know anything at all.:main_laugh:

 

[cwazy]

the sure fire way that has worked for me for checking your aleins is to simply touch em... pretty fool proof it seems... and the tiny tiny babies... i have a pic on one of my threds in this feeder section, its labled something like, 200+ beetles later... or somethin like that... i have a pic of a baby mealie on a dime for size comparison... but they are active lil buggers!

 

[LizMarie]

Today I was checking out my Mealworm bin and noticed that most have turned black and saw one of them walking around with this bump on her behind. I wonder if it was an egg sack about to come out?

 

[Geck-O]

Just wanted to warn you. I had about 500 mealies. I got so many pupae and now I have so many beetles. They bred and laid eggs. A LOT of eggs. I am now overrun with little mealies. I don't know what to do with them...

 

[LizMarie]

Just wanted to warn you. I had about 500 mealies. I got so many pupae and now I have so many beetles. They bred and laid eggs. A LOT of eggs. I am now overrun with little mealies. I don't know what to do with them...

Sell them!

I could probably find people on craigslist or even on this forum but your in another country so I dunno how it would work over there. Share them with your friends

 

[cwazy]

i have apx. 480 or so beetles... *does a dance* if we get over run, i know i can sell them or im almost possitive my local pet shop owner will make me a deal too... so i hope to get over run with mealies!

 

[minitrent]

Do all beatles lay eggs like asexually or do they have males and females?

Pat